Misty Morning

[wants_the_phd]

WHO: Adventurers
WHERE: Beyond the edge of the mist
WHEN: idk, we'll figure it out later

[It's a frosty morning at the edge of the outer pasture, where some intrepid explorers are about to dive into the mist in pursuit of herbs.]

Comments

[eonsadrift]

He already knows we're here. If we want to take her, we need to ensure he won't risk retaliating. We will destroy the body if he pushes us.

[ And he's on it at Spinel's urging, lifting the body out of the poison and crystal. A quick gust of wind clears off any lingering berries but it isn't going to help the fumes that start to fill the air. Also he very quickly shoves the feather into one of her massive fluffs of fur. ]

Do I? You didn't even give us your name.

[ He passes the body to Spinel and urges them all out! ]

Hurry up and get out! And try not to breathe in if you can help it!

[aididitmyway]

[She didn't hear anything past GET OUT because she's trying to control the wolf arm so like.

She's going. And aiming the wolf arm up or something, idk, she's not aiming it at the group but she is still definitely panicking and she'll take a moment to snatch her phone and shove it in the bag before fleeing.

but how do we get bad arm to stop]

[jerkalope]

[ time to stress shed all over this fluffy pink body ]

[adorabrawler]

[ Body get!! After shifting both Warden and the mysterious dead(?) person in her arms, Spinel nods once, holds in her breath, and makes a fucking break for it out of the newly formed cave wall.

They are NOT fighting any wolf ceos today, thanks!! ]

[wooliefrand]

[are

are yall just booking it with a body on foot

hey clover,,,


Ceo's voice screams out of the jackalope--]

I am the heir to the Wolf Kingdom! The Wolf King's eldest--Don't you touch a hair on her head, you bastards! I can hear every word you say--HEY!! Get back--

[uh oh, his voice is cutting out the further away they get. But they do manage to hear one last, loud roar.]

CLOVER!!




[also Lyra's arm is still snapping and barking along the way. Maybe its tongue is hanging out its mouth like in a car ride.]

[eonsadrift]

[ we've made some decisions today, team

But it's too late to go back on it now! With Spinel holding the body, Zenith is free to fly above and keep watch over them (especially Lyra's arm) as they make it out of Ceo's range and also the poison. Mostly the poison. ]

-stay together!

[aididitmyway]

I'm trying—!!!

[oh my god wait what are we going to do about the arm how do you fix a goopy wolf arm oh god she has no idea what she's doing but she's booking it]

[jerkalope]

[ keeping his mouth shut in case CEO wants to rant some more and his eyes shut because maybe that will make it harder for him to follow them? ]

[adorabrawler]

I am! I am!

[ She isn't slowing down her pace for anyone. ]

He knows we're here, so we gotta get back to the pasture!

[wooliefrand]

[they sure are running. there they go. but if they recall they are at LEAST two hours from the meadow. On foot. So what is the plan--

. . .

. . .

Hey do you hear a honking noise? Like. A truck?

Are those lights flashing in the distance?


Is that a fucking truck driving at them at high speed in a dead forest?


yea]

[eonsadrift]

[ what IS the plan. good question.

But Zenith can keep flying for a little while longer, so he's going to shine the sunflower light forward and continue to trace the way out of the mist. ]

What now-?!

[ This is AT LEAST something like a Ruin Guard so he rolls to the side in the air and starts to fire off multiple windblades at it, because surely this is a robotic creature that he can fight. Like every other form of technology in Genshin Impact. ]

[aididitmyway]

[WHAT THE MCFUCKING HELL IS GOING ON HERE

can the wolf arm fire a laser in the truck direction ash]

WHY IS THERE A TRUCK OUT HERE TOO???

[jerkalope]

[ opening his eyes at that because... w h a t the truck? ]

...if that's an Alpha Wolf truck irony is dead.

[ and so are they. m-maybe another attempt at kudzu shielding as Spinel runs from the truck?? ]

[adorabrawler]

—A truck?!

[ UHHHHHH




okay she's bolting it as fast as she can and maybe splitting away from Lyra some so it doesn't like

HIT THEM BOTH???¿ ]

[wooliefrand]

[IT SURE IS A FUCKING TRUCK.

The kudzu wall sprouts from the ground and the truck rams right into it, briefly stopped in its track by the vines. But then there's a SLASH--should they look behind them, it's Ceo himself, perched on top of the truck, having slashed through the vines.

In the truck itself, is a featureless masked wolf. How is it driving? Don't worry about it. The truck is also more like a moving truck, so its HEFTY.]

PUT HER DOWN!!

[This seems like the right time for a big villain speech but. To Lyra's question--can the mouth fire a laser at the truck?

Yes. Yes it can.

The laser hits straight through the driver's seat, obliterating the masked driver. Ceo keeps his balance mostly, until Zenith's windblades knock out a tire, and vehicle goes skidding. He falls off the top of it, on to a thicket with a string of curses as the truck finally comes to a stop just short of making Warden and Spinel roadkill.]

[eonsadrift]

[ Wow. See Lyra. It IS a cool new power.

And once the truck driver is obliterated and he's successful in knocking the truck over, he takes a split second to visually note that Spinel, Warden, and the body are not crushed before he dives after Ceo. ]

If you move or use any of your abilities, we'll destroy her body! Don't test us.

[aididitmyway]

Ye-yeah! I know how to shoot, so! You'd better stay where you are!

[she doesn't know how to shoot, but she may as well play along if they're in this deep]

[jerkalope]

[ considering he knows CEO can control him at any moment, he tries to burrow in the body's pink fluff and whispers to Spinel ]

Keep a grip on me, just in case...!

[ is that self-presevation or altruis--haha jk he doesn't want to get wrecked]

[adorabrawler]

I got you.

[ she says, with resolve. Spinel only looks over her shoulder long enough to catch a glimpse of the wreck—and who's there—before she sucks in a breath and sprints forth through the woods. It's not exactly sticking together, but Zenith will be able to find her, she thinks. ]

I'll keep you safe—I promise.

[wooliefrand]

[Ceo's back on his feet fast enough, but he does, in fact freeze. He looks far more panicked and less in control than their last meeting, muzzle looking VERY much like a normal wolf's as he glares through (new) glasses and snarls.

His eyes dart between them. The only Weed he could control is.....a small jackalope. Useless. He isn't making a move just yet.]

You have NO idea what you're doing. I could kill you all right now before you lift a finger.

[eonsadrift]

But do you really want to take that risk? I could slice her to ribbons with just a thought.

[ Winds swirl subtly around them, though he's not attacking. His eyes flick to Spinel briefly, and it seems like he's only barely willing to look at Ceo through the corner of his eyes. ]

Perhaps you'll be more willing to negotiate this time.

[aididitmyway]

And! I—I can shoot whenever Zenith tells me to!

[she thinks]

Why should we give it back!? Can't you try to threaten us a little less and actually talk to us or something?? Stop trying to be all weird and mysterious and murdery and maybe you'll be more likely to get what you want or something!

[jerkalope]

[ hahaha being tiny and weak does work sometimes! going to sit back and let Spinel put some distance between them ]

[adorabrawler]

[ Yeah! Distance!!

Well, she won't totally run off, at least; still in sight but (hopefully) not within the danger zone, Spinel does come to a halt, turning to see how Zenith and Lyra fare. ]

[wooliefrand]

[He does take a step back once zenith conjures up wind. he seems genuinely concerned about that body for SOME reason. at the same time, his eyes go from yellow to red.

Him mad.

Zenith should keep his full attention on him though. Because as soon as his eyes flicker to someone else, the wolf darts forward, and slashes.

The head on Lyra's arm hits the ground with a wet splat (though her arm is still black). And his jaws are wide open, ready to take a bite of ANYONE who sticks their limb out.]